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Tech Tools

Technological Advances For Dyslexia

Even after years of intensive intervention and tutoring, dyslexic students can continue to struggle with reading and writing. That’s why advances in technology have been invaluable to students who read and write slowly. Although  the following is not a complete list, it can provide the basis for further investigation.

Tech Tools and Assistive Technology for Dyslexics

Speech-to-Text

Students can turn their speech into text using apps like Dragon Dictation, Google’s VoiceNote, Easy Dyslexia Aid or just speaking into the microphone of a phone, tablet or laptop. 

Google Chrome Extensions

Extensions are small software programs that customize a user’s web browsing experience. Users can tailor functionality and behavior to individual needs or preferences. The programs are built on technologies such as HTML, JavaScript and CSS. Chrome offers several extensions for free or low cost that can help struggling readers and writers.

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•    Read&Write offers text-to-speech, speech-to-text and word prediction

•    Snap&Read will begin reading aloud from a click

•    Speakit lets students highlight a piece of text and have it read to them

•    Read Mode removes ads and images from websites so students can focus on the text
 

Kurzweil

Kurzweil educational software offers study skills features and Texthelp Read&Write, plus highlighting, sticky and voice notes. Notes can be compiled into a separate study guides, and files can be imported into sound files for easy listening.

WhisperSync

This Amazon app allows readers to switch between reading and listening to a book. For those whose slow reading can be exhausting, this app allows them to switch to audio to listen for a while.

Audiobooks with Accompanying Readers

Amazon’s Immersion Reading and VOICEText by Learning Ally both allow readers to read and listen to a story at the same time. Each comes with a highlighted text feature that helps dyslexic students follow along, allowing them to read books at the level of their peers.

Livescribe Smartpen

Livescribe offers a computerized pen that doubles as a recording device, recording what’s being said as well as what the student is writing. The student can tap the pen on any written note to replay what was said while they were writing.

Franklin Speller

These mini electronic dictionaries provide:

  • Handy lists of confusable words

  • Context-sensitive help text

  • Spellcheck

  • Print and cursive options for words

  • An arithmetic tutor

Speller & Gammerly Apps

These apps are good for correcting spelling for those who struggle with it.

Dyslexic Help With Print Books

As for reading print books, some early research has suggested that certain fonts like Dyslexie and Open Dyslexic make it easier for dyslexics to read by adding extra space between letters and weighting the letters at the bottom.

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